Anthony Plog on Music

Ron Ramin and Portia Kamons on SEVENTEEN: Giving Voice to a Generation by Composing a Musical Response to the Parkland Tragedy


Listen Later

“Seventeen was that age when we were realizing… we have to do something about this.” That poignant reflection echoes the emotional heart of SEVENTEEN, a powerful narrative work for orchestra created in response to the tragic 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida—an event that claimed the lives of seventeen students. Composer Ron Ramin was moved to begin work on this piece soon after, eventually collaborating with librettist Portia Kamons, and later joined by Jamie Bernstein. Together, they crafted a deeply human and artistically compelling response to an American tragedy.

In this two-part conversation, I sit down with Portia and Ron to talk about the creation of SEVENTEEN and the many layers involved in bringing it to life.

In Part 1, we begin with an overview of the piece itself, followed by a deeper dive into each of its four movements. Portia shares how the libretto was built from the actual words of young people, giving voice to a generation affected by gun violence. We also discuss how Ron and Portia came together to write the piece, the collaborative process behind their work, and how their shared vision took shape. We wrap up the first half of our conversation with the story of how the premiere performance came about, thanks to the support of the Orlando Philharmonic and its music director, Eric Jacobsen.

[Subscriber Content] Part 2 opens with a look at the practical challenges behind producing a project of this magnitude, especially the complexities of securing funding. This leads to a conversation about future performance opportunities and what lies ahead for SEVENTEEN. From there, we step back to learn more about Portia and Ron’s individual careers, and I pose a classic creative question: do artists need to feel inspired to do meaningful work, or can the work happen without inspiration? Their answers are thoughtful and revealing. And finally, we close with a broader reflection as I ask both of them how hopeful they feel about the future.

This episode offers a moving and thoughtful exploration of how art can respond to tragedy—and how music can become a powerful form of activism, remembrance, and healing.

Dorico
Professional music notation and composition software from Steinberg. Download a free 30-trial today!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Would you like more inspirational stories, suggestions, insights, and a place to continue the conversations with other listeners? Visit anthonyplog-on-music.supercast.com to learn more!

As a Contributing Listener of "Anthony Plog on Music," you'll have access to extra premium content and benefits including:

  • Extra Audio Content: Only available to Contributing Listeners.
  • Podcast Reflections: Tony's written recaps and thoughts on past interviews, including valuable tips and suggestions for students.
  • Ask Me Anything: Both as written messages and occasional member-only Zoom sessions.
  • The Show's Discord Server: Where conversations about interviews, show suggestions, and questions happen. It's a great place to meet other listeners and chat about all things music!
  • Can I just donate instead of subscribing? Absolutely!
  • Cancel at anytime and easily resubscribe when you want all that extra content again.

Learn more about becoming a Contributing Listener @ anthonyplog-on-music.supercast.com!

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Anthony Plog on MusicBy Anthony Plog (host), Eddie Ludema (Producer)

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

24 ratings


More shows like Anthony Plog on Music

View all
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,727 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,047 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,454 Listeners

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast by Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast

190 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,603 Listeners

The Bulletproof Musician by Noa Kageyama

The Bulletproof Musician

157 Listeners

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

7,048 Listeners

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend by Team Coco & Earwolf

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

59,358 Listeners

That's Not Spit, It's Condensation! by Ryan Beach

That's Not Spit, It's Condensation!

117 Listeners

The Trombone Corner by The Brass Ark & Bob Reeves Brass

The Trombone Corner

30 Listeners

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out by Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

4,558 Listeners

Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

1,318 Listeners

The Open Bell by Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, William Stowman, Joey Tartell

The Open Bell

55 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,056 Listeners

What Now? with Trevor Noah by Trevor Noah

What Now? with Trevor Noah

4,084 Listeners